Short answer: A receipt confirms that you received money. Write a unique receipt number and the date, your business name and contacts, the customer's name, the amount received (in figures and words), how they paid, what it was for (with the invoice number), and any balance still owed. Give the customer a copy and keep one for your books.
Step by step
- Use a unique receipt number and the payment date.
- Add your business name, address and contact details.
- Name the customer who paid.
- State the amount received in figures and words, and the payment method.
- Say what it was for, with the invoice number if there is one.
- Show the balance still due, if it was a part payment.
- Sign or stamp it, or send it from your system, and keep a copy.
Why receipts matter
A receipt protects both sides. The customer has proof they paid, which matters for returns, warranties and their own expense claims. You have a record that matches your bank statement, which makes bookkeeping and taxes far easier and settles "I already paid you" disputes in seconds. Many Nigerian businesses skip receipts for transfers because "the customer has the debit alert". A debit alert doesn't say what the payment was for; a receipt does.
What a receipt should show
- Receipt number: unique and in sequence, like RCT-0108.
- Date of payment.
- Your business details: name, address, phone, email, and TIN if you have one.
- Who paid: the customer's name (and company).
- Amount received: in figures and in words, e.g. ₦150,000 (One hundred and fifty thousand naira).
- Payment method: bank transfer, POS, cash, cheque, and the reference if useful.
- What it's for: the goods or service, or "Payment for INV-0042".
- Balance due: for part payments, what's left to pay.
- Signature or stamp, for handwritten receipts.
Sample receipt
| Receipt no. | RCT-0108 |
|---|---|
| Date | 3 October 2026 |
| Received from | Chinedu Okafor |
| Amount | ₦150,000 (One hundred and fifty thousand naira) |
| Method | Bank transfer, ref. 2026100312345 |
| For | Deposit on INV-0042, aso-ebi order (10 outfits) |
| Invoice total | ₦300,000 |
| Balance due | ₦150,000 by 20 October 2026 |
Deposits and part payments
Nigerian customers often pay in instalments. Issue a receipt for each payment, showing the invoice it belongs to and the balance left. That way, when the final payment comes, nobody argues about what's outstanding. In ENB you record each part payment against the invoice; a numbered receipt goes to the customer automatically and the invoice shows the balance until it's fully paid.
Receipt vs invoice
| Invoice | Receipt | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Before payment (asks for money) | After payment (confirms money) |
| Says | "Please pay ₦X by this date" | "We received ₦X on this date" |
| Number series | INV- | RCT- |
A "cash sales receipt" for a walk-in customer can be both at once: what they bought and that they paid.
Handwritten vs digital receipts
A receipt booklet with carbon copies is fine for a small shop, as long as every copy is kept and numbered. Digital receipts are easier to search, can't be lost when the booklet gets wet, and can be sent instantly by email or WhatsApp. If you correct a payment, don't tear out or edit receipts: reverse the payment and issue a new one, so your records stay honest.
Common mistakes
- No receipt number, so two receipts can't be told apart.
- Not linking the payment to an invoice, so part payments get confused.
- Writing the date the goods were delivered instead of the date the money arrived.
- Giving receipts for money that hasn't actually landed in your account. Confirm the transfer first: fake debit alerts are a known scam.
Make receipts automatic
When a customer reports a payment on an ENB invoice, you confirm it once the money shows in your account, and the receipt is emailed (or shared on WhatsApp on paid plans) straight away. Every receipt is in your books, and the customer can download a PDF any time.
Receipts for cash and POS sales
For walk-in sales, a simple sales receipt lists the items, quantities, prices and total, the payment method and the date. For POS payments, keep the terminal's slip too: it proves the card was charged, but it doesn't say what was bought. For cash, count the money in front of the customer and write the receipt immediately.
How long to keep receipts
Keep copies of receipts you issue and receipts you receive for expenses for at least six years. They support your books, your VAT records if you're registered, and any tax review. Digital copies are easier to keep safe than paper: take a photo of paper receipts for expenses and attach them to the transaction in your books.
A note on fake payment alerts
Fraudsters send fake SMS credit alerts and doctored transfer screenshots. Before you hand over goods or issue a receipt, check your banking app or internet banking, not the SMS or screenshot. If you use ENB's "I've paid" button on invoices, it's a report from the customer, not a confirmation: you still confirm the money has arrived.
Frequently asked questions
Is a receipt a legal document in Nigeria?
A receipt is evidence of payment and can be used to support your records, tax filings and disputes. Keep copies with your books.
Can I issue a receipt for a bank transfer?
Yes, and you should. Confirm the money has arrived in your account first, then issue the receipt with the transfer reference.
What's the difference between a receipt and an invoice?
An invoice asks for payment; a receipt confirms payment was received.
Should I issue receipts for deposits?
Yes. Issue one for each payment, showing the invoice it belongs to and the balance left.
We build the ENB business platform and support Nigerian businesses from our offices in Yaba, Lagos and Owerri. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or accounting advice; for your own situation, speak to a qualified professional.